U.S. targets Gazprombank in sweeping new Russian sanctions
The United States imposed restrictions on 118 individuals and entities from Russia's financial sector on Thursday, including full sanctions on Gazprombank, the last major Russian bank not yet subject to a full blockade, the White House announced.
The United States is introducing extensive sanctions on more than 50 financial institutions to undermine Russia's capacity to utilize the global financial system for financing and carrying out its aggressive actions against Ukraine, according to a statement from National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan.
He emphasized that among the institutions subject to restrictions is Gazprombank, Russia's largest bank, which to date had not been sanctioned by the US.
The largest bank in Russia on the blacklist
Gazprombank is the third-largest bank in Russia, through which Moscow settles payments for military equipment purchases and pays soldiers and their families. Although it had been partially sanctioned, it has not yet been fully blocked and excluded from the SWIFT system, which has been applied to other banks. This was due to concerns about the impact of sanctions on further Russian gas supplies to Europe.
According to a statement from the US Treasury Department, over 50 Russian banks with international ties, more than 40 securities registries used by Russia to bypass restrictions, and 15 individuals from the management of Russian state banks were added to the sanctions list.
Russian alternative to SWIFT
Additionally, a warning alert was issued to companies about the sanctions risk associated with using the Russian SPFS payment system, which is meant to be an alternative to the international SWIFT system.
The sanctions introduced today are aimed at curbing Russia's exploitation of the global financial system to fund its war in Ukraine. The United States is committed to strengthening Ukraine's position. It will continue to take decisive actions, including significantly boosting security aid and rigorously implementing sanctions and other measures to counter Russia's war efforts, according to Sullivan's statement.
